The Reality Reports

The Danish West Indies: A Colonial Past The islands now known as the U.S. Virgin Islands—St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix—were once called the Danish West Indies. Denmark controlled these islands for over 250 years, beginning in the late 1600s.  The islands’ economy was built on sugarcane plantations and the labor of enslaved Africans.  When slavery was abolished in 1848, the islands’ economy began to decline, making them less valuable to Denmark.

Kennesaw, Georgia, a suburban city northwest of Atlanta, is known for its unique law requiring every head of household to own a firearm. This ordinance, passed in 1982, has sparked curiosity and debate for decades.  While some see it as a bold statement on public safety, others view it as a relic of the past. Here’s a closer look at this unusual law and its implications.

A Floating White House:   For nearly half a century, the USS Sequoia served as the official presidential yacht of the United States, earning its nickname as a "floating White House."  From 1931 to 1977, this 104-foot vessel hosted nine presidents, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon.  It was a space for recreation, diplomacy, and decision making, blending luxury with political significance.

The United States got its first subway system in Boston, Massachusetts, a city known for its winding streets and growing population in the late 1800s.  This underground marvel opened on September 1, 1897, changing how people moved around and setting the stage for other cities to follow.  Known as the Tremont Street Subway, it was a solution to a big problem: too many people, horses, and streetcars clogging the roads.  Today, it’s part of Boston’s Green Line, still running after more than a century. This article dives into why it was built, how it worked, and what it means now.